Pedal



Jan; 27. 19 1,524,072 F. B. WILLIAMS 3 PEDAL Filed April 16, 1924 V ,NK 25 Mam /M0 Patented Jan. 27, 1925. i

sm-nu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO F. B. WILLIAMS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FEDAL.

Application filed April 16, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. VVILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to foot operable pedals and has especial reference to pedals for automobiles, being especially adaptable for operating the gasoline controlling valve to regulate the fuel supply for the engine, usually called the accelerator.

it is very essential, in the operation of a device of this character, that the valve shall be very positively held in selected positions and operable in fine gradations to maintain steady operation of the engine, at various selected speeds and to prevent racing of the engine.

Heretofore foot pedals, for this purpose, have been fixedly pivoted near their longitudinal centers so that when the toe of the foot is depressed the heel is correspondingly raised, causing a fatigue strain of the leg and sometimes of the foot of the operator to maintain the pedal in the many required positions.

In other forms of the levers of the prior art, in which direct downward pressure must be exerted to operate the valve, the foot and leg are thus continually suspended and subjected to much muscular strain and nerve exhausting effort.

When such mechanisms are used it is almost impossible to maintain a steady even pressure upon the operable devices without causing unnecessary fatigue and especially when the car is passing over irregular rough roadways the resulting jar causes involuntary spasmodic movement or vibration of the controlling valve and consequent irregularity of speed of the car.

In my improved pedal the foot of the driver rests always solidly upon an unyielding support permitting relaxation of the dominating leg muscles.

In the operation of my treadle the movable member has a rocking motion with a continually changing fulcrum, so that the point of support travels forward as the front end is depressed, thus permitting a natural movement of the foot and producing a larger movement of the front end of the pedal than of the rear or heel end and Serial No. 706,863.

relieving the leg of the operator of strain and fatigue.

In the drawing Fig. l is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the pedal in two positions.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section.

Fig. t is a side elevation of a slightly modified form. t

In all of the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts.

The device consists of two major parts, the pedal member 5 and the base memher 6.

The base member as shown has a flat table part 7 with upturned sides 8 between which the member 5 is contained. The legs 9 support the base member and are perforated at 10 for screws to hold the device in place.

The pedal member 5 comprises a footreceiving plate 11, which may be fiat or curved, somewhat longer than the base member, with downturned side walls 12. The side walls 12 are parallel with each other and parallel with the upturned walls 8 of the base member. The walls 12 fit neatly between the walls 8. The Walls 12 are curved at their bottom edges 13 which rock upon the table 7 of the base 6 when pressure is applied to produce the rocking movemnt.

If large movement of the pedal is desired the plate 7 may also be curved.

The member 5 has at its rear end a heel rest 1 which is formed by turning up a part of the plate 11.

Secured to the base 6 a spring 15, which may be of any suitable form, extends over a. stirrup 16 below the plate 11 to yieldingly hold the front end of the pedal elevated.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the downturned side walls 12 are slotted, at 17, thru which a pin 18 extends thru the upturned side walls 8 of the base. This prevents separation of the parts, serves as a guide, and permits the rockers 13 to contact the table when weight is applied to the pedal member, and does not interfere with the intended movement of the pedal.

The modified form, shown in Fig. 4, has teeth 19 on one of the downturned side members 12 of the pedal which enter spaced perforations 20 in the table 7 of the base member. A spring of suitable form serves the same purpose as the spring 15. l/Vhen jor members longitudinally curved, for the-- purpose described. it is manifest that both or-either member may-be so curved to a suitableextent, and produce the equivalent result, the object being to constantly mainmm a positive support under the foot, which moves aheadas the foot is rocked forwardly.

Havin described-my invention what I claim asne-w-and desireto secure by'Letters Patent, is

1. A" pedal structure comprising a base member having a pedal supporting surface;

7 a pedal member mounted thereon, the lat- *ter member having a footreceiving surface and (lOWIltUIIIBChSldQS, the edges of the "edges to rock on the base and means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the members as the pedal is rocked.

3. A pedal structure comprising a base member having a flat table and u turned side walls; a pedal between the walls 'hav- 111g acurved surface to rock upon said fiat table of the base and means to prevent longitudinally and means to prevent fore and aft movement of the pedal on the base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand.

FRANK B. \VILLIA MS. 

